Risperdal Lawsuit

If you or a loved one took the antipsychotic drug Risperdal (risperidone) and experienced side effects like male breast growth, you may be entitled to a cash award settlement in a Risperdal lawsuit. Contact our Risperdal attorneys today to discuss your legal options.

Risperdal’s Legal History

Since Johnson & Johnson introduced this powerful antipsychotic drug in 1993, Risperdal has been prescribed to millions of Americans with conditions ranging from schizophrenia to bipolar disorder. Today, many Risperdal users are pursuing compensation from the drug maker over side effects like breast growth in boys (gynecomastia), heart attack, and diabetes.

In 2013, J&J agreed to pay $2.2 billion to resolve civil and criminal charges regarding the company’s Risperdal marketing practices.

Many Risperdal lawsuits allege that Johnson & Johnson promoted its Risperdal antipsychotic as a treatment for dementia in the elderly and for behavior disorders in children, despite the fact that the drug wasn’t approved for these uses at that time. In 2013, J&J agreed to pay $2.2 billion to resolve civil and criminal charges regarding the company’s Risperdal marketing practices.

Potential Adverse Effects of Risperdal Use

Despite claims by Johnson & Johnson that Risperdal is safe and effective for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric conditions, serious concerns have been raised about Risperdal complications, especially in boys and young men taking the powerful antipsychotic drug. The side effects most commonly associated with Risperdal use include:

Gynecomastia (male breast growth)
Diabetes
Stroke
Heart attack
Hyperglycemia
Tardive dyskinesia

Male Breast Growth Linked to Risperdal

A growing number of Risperdal lawsuits are being filed against J&J in large part because of mounting research linking the antipsychotic to breast growth in boys and young men. According to new studies, male patients who use Risperdal may experience elevated levels of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates breast growth in women that may cause gynecomastia in males.

Gynocomastia is characterized by abnormal breast growth and in many cases, is accompanied by pain and nipple discharge. According to research presented at the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry in March 2014, boys and young men taking Risperdal have a 69% increased risk of experiencing abnormal breast growth.

Symptoms of Gynecomastia include:

darkened or reddish skin around nipples
swollen breast gland tissue
swollen nipples
tenderness in nipples
lactation

Contact Our Experienced Risperdal Lawyers Today

As more information comes to light about the potential risk of Risperdal side effects, Risperdal lawyers throughout the country will continue to investigate claims filed on behalf of patients negatively effected by the drug. To date, hundreds of complaints have been brought against Johnson & Johnson in regards to gynecomastia and other complications, and more Risperdal lawsuits are expected to be filed in the coming months and years.

If you or a loved one took Risperdal as a treatment for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or another medical condition, and you have since suffered a major side effect like male breast growth, heart attack or diabetes, you may be entitled to a cash award settlement for your injuries and medical bills.

Contact the experienced defective drug lawyers at Impact Law today to discuss the possibility of filing a Risperdal claim against Johnson & Johnson.

A man suffering from gynecomastia — Critics accuse Johnson & Johnson of failing to provide consumers and the medical community with adequate warnings about the risk of gynecomastia.

Risperdal Side Effects

Risperdal is a popular antipsychotic medication manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and prescribed to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric conditions, but mounting evidence suggests that Risperdal may put users at risk for life-altering side effects, including abnormal breast growth among boys and young men. If you took Risperdal in the past, and you have suffered from male breast growth or another serious complication, contact a knowledgeable Risperdal attorney today for legal help. You may have the right to file a Risperdal claim against Johnson & Johnson, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

Side Effects Allegedly Tied to Risperdal

Newer-generation antipsychotic drugs like Risperdal were designed to be safer than older psychiatric medications, mostly because they reduced the risk of tardive dyskinesia in users, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements of the face and jaw. However, a growing number of studies have examined the safety of Risperdal and other second-generation antipsychotics, and found that they may be equally as dangerous, if not more so. According to a number of recent Risperdal studies, the psychiatric medication may be linked to the following side effects:

Male breast growth (gynecomastia)
Heart attack
Stroke
Diabetes
Hyperglycemia
Hyperosmolar coma
Tardive dyskinesia

Critics accuse Johnson & Johnson of failing to provide consumers and the medical community with adequate warnings about the risk of gynecomastia and other side effects from Risperdal treatment, even though, according to testimony offered by a former FDA chief in a recent Risperdal trial, J&J knew about the risk of Risperdal breast growth in boys as early as 2001.

Studies Linking Risperdal to Side Effects

Since Risperdal garnered FDA approval in 1993, it has become one of the best-selling antipsychotic drugs on the market, prescribed to nearly 12.5 million patients every year for schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions. And Risperdal remains a popular treatment today, despite a growing body of research linking the antipsychotic drug to serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. One of the first Risperdal side effect studies was published in the medical journal Psychopharmacology in 1999, and researchers involved in the study found that Risperdal use was associated with male breast growth complications when taken with the antidepressant Prozac.

A number of more recent Risperdal studies have highlighted the potential risk of injuries from the antipsychotic drug, and in 2006, the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that Risperdal use increases levels of the hormone prolactin in adolescent users, which elevates the risk of male breast growth side effects. Another study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology in 2009, found that prolactin levels in Risperdal users remained elevated for up to two years, resulting in an increased risk of gynecomastia complications. Research has also shown that breast growth side effects in boys and young men may result in lasting psychological problems, including lowered self-esteem and a diminished quality of life.

Contact a Qualified Risperdal Attorney for Help

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 1.1% of the population in the United States suffers from schizophrenia, and 2.6% of American adults experience symptoms of bipolar disorder. Because these psychiatric conditions are so prevalent in the U.S., Risperdal and similar antipsychotic medications have become a widely-used form of treatment, despite the potential risk of side effects linked to Risperdal, like gynecomastia. If you have been diagnosed with male breast growth or another serious side effect, and you believe Risperdal to be the cause, consult a reputable Risperdal lawyer today to discuss your legal options. With an experienced Risperdal attorney on your side, you can protect your legal rights and seek fair and timely reimbursement for your losses.